You might have shiny, new tiles installed in one corner of your home (and while they're likely really lovely), there's something else you should know: do you know what kind of safety rating these tiles are assigned? While it may seem weird to pay attention to what kind of flooring goes where, it's actually important—most types of tile come with a standard slip rate that tells us how slippery the surface is going to be.

Tiles can be examined for anti-slip properties in a number of ways. One such way is the Oil Wet Ramp Test which is recognised by the Building and Construction Authority of Singapore (BCA). This test will measure resistance to slippage when walking up an incline covered with oil.

What do the various anti-slip tile ratings mean?

Tiles are rated differently according to the inclination angle it takes to safely stand on them. Anti-slip tiles rated R9 allow inclinations of up to 10 degrees without risk, while those rated R13 allow inclinations up to 30 degrees without risking slipping or falling.

How Are Tiles Categorised Based on its Anti-Slip Capabilities?

There are 6 categories to determine this:

1.) Polished –There is no safety rating for polished tiles. Polished or glossy tile should not be used in areas where they may come into contact with water or moisture, as they could cause someone to slip and fall. Similarly, these types of tiles should not be used in corridors where people who are unsteady on their feet may find themselves at risk of slipping when navigating the flooring surface.

2.) R9 – This rating indicates that the tile has a smoother, low-friction surface which should only be considered in dry places. The R9 tile is typically easier to maintain and clean due to its smooth surface.  Although slip injuries are more likely to occur on a Polished or R9 surface, some people may still want the smooth and easy-to-maintain slick floor look at home. In spite of being warned about accidents, those in charge might decide to go ahead and install either Polished or R9 Porcelain tiles for their floors. These homeowners could then rest easy knowing that they would be able to maintain them properly by just using daily normal floor cleaning agents.

3.) R10 – A tile with an R10 surface has normal static friction between the tile surface and the base of a shoe. R10 tiles are often easy to clean while still possessing decent anti-slip properties.
That being said, an R10 A surface would be sufficient for commercial and residential toilets.

4.) R11 – Tiles with an R11 surface are specially designed to provide greater static friction between the floor and the sole of shoes. This is because they're particularly rough and not popular among Singaporeans due to worries about difficult maintenance. However, these tiles are necessary for certain areas - like ramps - which may often become wet or slippery. They're also more commonly found in a home on the car porch or patio where there's less chance of coming into contact with bare feet.

5.) R12 and R13 – Such anti-slip ratings are extremely unpopular in our local market, unless required/requested.

Below are some recommendations for which areas you might find most applicable:

Having said this, we hope you have a better understanding of what it means for tiles to be slip-resistant. If so, please take some time to visit our website where you can find the different types of tiles that are rated based on slip resistance and design.

Click on the link below to view our range of collections:

• Marble
  
• Wood
• Stone